Film processing



Jan. 19, 1937; KR A 2,067 33 FILM PROCESSING Filed Dec. 6, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /5 INVENTOR- V/CTO/fK/EUPA Jan. 19, 192.7.

V. KRUPA FILM PROCESS ING Fi led Dec. 6, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVb NTOR V/CTOF/f' UPA Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILM PROCESSING Victor Krupa, West-wood, N. J., assignor to Edward Moyse, New York, N. Y.

Application December'fi, 1933, Serial No. 701,119

4 Claims.

My invention relates to novel apparatus for and methods of treating gelatinous bodies, and more particularly relates to novel apparatus for and methods of treating the emulsion of exposed and developed motion picture films for increasing its durability and extending its life. As. is well known to those skilled in the art,-developed motion picture films are subjected to considerable wear and tear during their commercial usage.

In use they are widely transported and accordingly subjected to widely varying weather conditions with the result that the film rapidly deteriorates, due to exposure I have discovered that I can overcome this ably treating it to render the easily loid substance composing the film e a new insoluble compound.

' condition and lengthen the life of the film by suitsoluble colmulsion into Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide methods of and apparatus developed films.

for treating stance into an insoluble compound.

insoluble compound and fixing th film.

A further object of myinvention e so-treated is to provide novel apparatus for and methods of increasing the lite and durablity of exposed and developed films and fixing the treated films.

Still another object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for and methods of subjecting films to successive 'treatmen cal vapors.

ts of chemi- I have discovered that when films are rolled together in the normal manner and treated in accordance with my process described hereinbeiore.

thevapors penetrate sufficiently into the spaces which normally exist between successive windings to thoroughly treat the surface Accordingly, a further objector my invention is sive layers of the film.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of apparatus used in car invention.

ryingout my 'illustration, I have shown two films 22 wound on Figure. 2 is'a longitudinal cross sectional view Y 'of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

'Figure 3 is a detail of one form of rack used for mounting the'films.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross sectional view 5 through 44 of the cylindershown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross section through 5-5 of Figure 4, showing the heating unit as-- sembly.

Referring now more specifically to Figures 1 and 4, my system comprises ingeneral a cylindrical chamber II which, as will be described hereinafter, is arranged to receive successive charges of chemical vapors for treating exposed and developed films suitably supported within the chamber i I bymeans of a rack l2, shown in Figure 3. Rack i2, an end view or which is shown in Figure 4, is arcuate in shape, comprising a series of ribs l3 suitably connected together by the frame members I8, I! and 20. For purposes of reels 23 mounted in this rack construction, but

in actual-practice it will be understood that a number of such films mounted in face to face relation and extending along the entire length of 25 the rack are simultaneously supported within the chamber i I. Mounted on the circumferential rim 25 on the end of cylinder II are a series 01' tie bolts 26, suitably supported on pivot pins 21, for securing the cylinder coverii in place, each of the tie bolts being adapted to fit into slots 28 along the circumferential edge of the cylinder cover 3i, and being provided with winged nut members 29 by means of which the head is firmly secured in place to form an air-tight chamber. A handle 34 is suitably secured to the cylinder cover SI for easily applying and removing the cylinder head.

As will now be'understood, in order to treat the developed films, they are mounted on rack l 2, Figure 3, the cylinder cover it being then removed, the rack together with the films thereon is slid into the chamber ll until it is completely enclosed. The cover 3i is then put in place and the tie bolts secured to form an air-tight chamber.

I have discovered that the best results are obtained when the chamber is first completely exhausted before the films are chemically treated, thus insuring maximum penetration of the chemicals. To this end, I have provided an exhaust pump 4i having an outlet 42 and an intake line 43 extending through the pressure gauge 44. Line 41, connected at one end to the gauge 44, is connected at its opposite end to the chamber II. Exhaust pump 4| is operated through the fiy wheel 40 connected by means oi the belt 45 to the electric motor 46 of any suitable construction. mounted on the platform 48. Motor 46 operates the exhaust pump ll to produce a vacuum of approximately 29 inches in the chamber ll.'

After the tank has been suitably exhausted in this manner, it is prepared to receive the necessary chemicals for proper treatment. These are supplied from two different sources not shown, each of which is connected over its individual line 49 and 50 to atomizers 53 and 54 regulated by valves 5| and 52 respectively. The systems extend from these points through individual valves 55 and 56 to a common feed pipe 51 having a valve 58 therein and extendinginto the heating chamber 6|, Figure 5, which is suitably secured as by welding or by rivets along the lower portion of thetank II, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As shown in Figure 5', chamber 6| carries therein, in any suitable manner, heating units- '63 preferably as shown made of strip heating material through which an electric current from the conductor 64 is transmitted. Included in the electrical circuit is a thermostat unit 66 diagrammatically illustrated and having a thermally responsive member 62 in series connection with conductor 64, by means of conductor 65 which, in response to a predetermined temperature, operates to open a circuit, discontinuing the current through the unit 63. Normally, however, when the temperature isapproxim'ately a predetermined value, the strip heater heats the passing gas to vaporization, the thermostat unit in this case keeping the electrical heating circuit closed.

The operation of the device will now be obvious. The films 22are normally wound on reels 23 and mounted in the rack 12 shown in Figure 3, which is inserted longitudinally in the" chamber ll. Motor 46 is then started into operation to operate the exhaust pump ll until a, predetermined vacuum condition is obtained in the chamber H, as shown by the gauge 44. When this condition is obtained, the motor 46 is brought to a stop and the valve 55 is opened to permit the chemical received over the pipe 45, vaporized through the atomizer 53, to fiow through the intake pipe 51 to the heating chamber over the conduit 59. In this portion of the system the chemical is completely vaporized by heating and passes through the pipes 61 and 68 and enters the exhaust chamber II.

The chemical vapors in chamber ll penetrate into the film and throughout the'surface of each successive layer, reacting with the emulsion and converting the colloid substance into an insoluble compound.

It will be understood that any suitable chemical may be used for this purpose which does not affect the. degrees of translucency and transparency of the film for projecting purposes.

opened to admit a new chemical received over the pipe 50 through its atomizer 5|. This chemical, as in the first instance, flows through the The vacuum pump and motor are 7 same common conductor 51 to the heating chamber which during this time has been maintained at a predetermined temperature by the temperature control unit 66. This chemical, as in the previous case,- is completely vaporized by heating in conduit 59 and then is carried over the conduits 61 and 68 to the exhaust chamber. Any suitable chemicals may be used for this part of the process which will fix the treated film to maintain it in insoluble condition, but it will be understood in this case also that the chemical must not afiect the translucency and transparency of the film. In practice, I have found that this second operation should take approximately ten minutes, but in this case also it will depend on the chemical I use and the rate of vaporization.

After suitable treatment of films in this manner, the cover 3| is removed from the cylinder and the rack, together with the films, is removed, these films now being properly treated, and the system is then ready for treating another set of Although for purposes of illustration, I have described a specific construction of tank and of the system, it will be understood that my invention is not necessarily limited thereto and that other constructions may be used for carrying out the general principle of my invention, which basically consists in the novel process for successive treatments of films to properly condition them. Accordingly, I do not intend to be limited by the above, but onlyas set forth in the appended claims. r I claim:

1. The method of treating exposed and developed film comprising subjecting said film to a relatively high vacuum, contacting said film with a treating agent for converting the colloid sub-- ing the treated film to maintain it in insoluble condition.

2. The method of treating exposed and developed film comprising enclosing said film in a container, evacuating said container to a relatively high degree, admitting to said container a vaporous treating agent having a temperature above atmospheric for converting the colloid substance of the film into an insoluble compound, maintaining said treating agent in contact with the film for a predetermined time and introducing a second treating agent for fixing the treated film to maintain it in insoluble condition.

3. The method of treating exposed'and developed film comprising subjecting said film to a relatively high vacuum, contacting said film with a heated treating agent in relatively atomized condition for a predetermined period for ,converting the colloid substances of the film to an insoluble compound and introducing a second treating agent for fixing the treated film to maintain it in insoluble condition.

'4. The method of treating a coil of exposed and developed film comprising inserting said film into a container and closing the container, evacuating said container to a relatively high degree, atomizing an agent for converting the colloid substance of the film into an insoluble compound and intimately contacting the film therer with and introducing into intimate contact with the film a second treating agent for fixing the treated film to maintain it in insoluble condition.

VICTOR KRUPA. 

